Socket wrench for sprinkler nozzles



P 1968 w. J. SALLOWS 3,379,078

SOCKET WRENCH FOR SPRINKLER NOZZLES Filed July 28, 1966 l2 l5 l4 United States Patent 3,379,078 SOCKET WRENCH FOR SPRINKLER NOZZLES William J. Sallows, Upper Bench Road, RR. 1, Keremeos, British Columbia, Canada Filed July 28, 1966, Ser. No. 568,478 Claims priority, applicataoil Canada, May 12, 1966, 96 84 4 Claims. c1. 81-125) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE My invention relates to a tool particularly adapted for use in removing and replacing sprinkler nozzles of the type commonly used on large irrigation systems, and in small sprinkling units.

An irrigation system for an orchard or the like may have a number of lengths of pipe which are coupled together, in lines, a line being laid upon the ground near a row of fruit trees with each line being separately connected to a water main. The pipes making up the lines are each provided, at suitably spaced intervals, with vertical sprinkler heads, each head being fitted with a nozzle.

Such a system may receive its water supply from open irrigation ditches, reservoirs, etc., and, in these circumstances, dirt and debris may find its way into the pipes, to reach the nozzles, which may thus become clogged to a point where they are no longer fully effective. When this occurs the nozzles are removed, cleaned and replaced, to restore the effectiveness of the system.

An operator is commonly employed to make periodic checks of the nozzles and, hitherto, when a partially clogged nozzle was found, it was necessary for him to proceed to the water main and shut off a valve leading to the concerned line. The operator then returned to the clogged nozzle and, using a conventional wrench, removed it for cleaning. After the cleaned nozzle was replaced, the operator returned to the main and reopened the valve. All this took time and caused a reduction in the amount of water received by the orchard.

The present invention provides a tool which will enable clogged nozzles to be serviced without shutting off the water supply to the line, and thus materially reduces ditficulties and disadvantages as above.

To allow a nozzle to be removed from an operating sprinkler head without shutting off the water, the invention contemplates the use of a socket wrench having an open-ended tube which is fitted on one end with a socket adapted to engage the nozzle, the socket defining with the tube an inner fluid passage and a funnel secured to the tube so as to define therewith an outer fluid passage.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a part elevation, part longitudinal section, of the socket wrench in position of use.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3" is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

The socket wrench is provided with a central tube having an upper end 11 and a lower end 12. An external thread 14 is formed on the lower end 12 of the tube.

The tube 10 is adapted to be fitted with a socket 16 which is one of a set of sockets of various sizes to fit a wide variety of sprinkler heads. A hexagonal opening Patented Apr. 23, 1968 17 is formed in the lower end of the detachable socket 16 and this opening communicates with an opening 18 in the upper end of the socket. An internal thread 19 is cut on the inner periphery of the opening 18 to receive the thread 14 on the central tube. Between the openings 17 and 18, an integrally formed inner flange on the socket provides a seat 20 for a suitable gasket 21. When the tube 10 is hand-tightened into the opening 18, its inner end engages the gasket 21 and binds to some extent so as to otter suitable resistance to the socket inadvertently backing oil the tube when the tool is in use. When the socket is attached to the tube, the openings 17 and 18 and the bore of said tube together define an inner water passage which is indicated by the number 22.

Enclosing the tube 10 and its attached socket 16 is a funnel generally indicated by the numeral 24. This funnel has a cone-shaped lower portion 25 and a cylindrical upper portion 26. The portion 26 is secured to the tube 10 by means of rods 27 which extend through openings in said portion and into contact with the tube. Preferably, the rods 27 are secured to both the funnel and the tube by brazing. As best shown in FIG. 3, the rods 27 are arranged in diametrically opposed pairs and are of small dimension so as to offer little obstruction to Water flowing through an outer passage 29 which is defined between the tube and funnel. A suitable handle 30 is fitted to the portion 25 of the funnel.

The numeral 31 indicates a portion only of a sprinkler head which is fitted with a nozzle 32. The nozzle 32 is threaded into the sprinkler head in the usual manner and, of course, is made hexagonal as is common with this type of fitting. A discharge opening 33 is provided in the upper end of the tubular nozzle.

In operation, the sprinkler head 31 receives its water supply under pressure, and this water is emitted by the nozzle 32 as a jet stream, directed outwardly and distributed in a wide circle as the head slowly rotates. When dirt finds its way into the sprinkler head, it often will build up either within the head directly below the nozzle, or within the nozzle itself. Usually this causes only a partial blockage of the jet stream but occasionally small particles will result in a stoppage of the flow.

To service an improperly functioning sprinkler head using the present socket wrench, the funnel 24 is supported with one hand gripping the cylindrical portion 26 which also serves as a handle for the tool. The wrench is aligned with the upper end of the head 31 and is manipulated and advanced towards the nozzle 32. As this is done, the tool user is shielded by the funnel from water which may still be spurting from the nozzle, the water passing through the passage 29 and discharging from the outer end of the tool. When the socket 16 has fully engaged the nozzle, the water will travel through the passage 22 and continue to discharge from the end of the socket wrench. The tool is then used to back off the nozzle and lift it clear of the sprinkler head for purposes of cleaning.

To replace a cleaned nozzle, the fitting is inserted into the socket 16 and the wrench is used to thread said nozzle on to the sprinkler head. As this is done the user will first have to contend with the full force of the water discharging from the head, but as before the funnel serves to direct this stream through the passage 29 and away from the user. When the nozzle is seated in the sprinkler head and is threaded home the water jet will be directed through the passage 22.

Referring again to FIGURES 1 and 2, the numeral 35 indicates a spring retainer which is secured to a side of the socket 16. An inwardly projecting free end 36 of the spring retainer is inwardly curved as shown to form a hook and is adapted to engage a part of the nozzle 32. Thus, the nozzle is held within the socket by the spring retainer 35 and cannot readily be dropped or dislodged by a jet of water from the sprinkler head.

The funnel 24 has 'been described as having a coneshaped lower end and a cylindrical upper end but it will be understood tfunnels of different shapes could be used. For example, this member might be an open-ended bottle having a widely flared lower end or skirt and a relatively narrow upper end or neck. Such a shape would be effective in trapping water being discharged from the nozzle and diverting it away from the operator.

It is seen from the foregoing description of an embodiment of the tool of my invention, that the tool enables the nozzle to be removed and replaced without shutting off the water supply at the main. This results in a saving of the operators time and in an increase in effectiveness of the sprinkler system.

I claim:

1. A socket wrench for removing a nozzle from a sprinkler head, the wrench comprising a nozzle engaging socket, tubular means supporting the socket and attached thereto, said tubular means and socket providing an inner fluid passage, and water deflecting means surrounding the tubular means and defining therewith an outer fluid passage, said water deflecting means comprising funnel means for deflecting the water secured to and enclosing the tubular means, said funnel means having a conical portion surrounding the socket and a cylindrical portion surrounding an end of the tubular means remote from the socket, said funnel means being secured to the tubular means by opposed pairs of rods extending between the cylindrical portion of the funnel means and the tubular means.

2. A socket wrench for removing and installing a nozzle on a sprinkler head while fluid under pressure is discharging from the nozzle, said wrench comprising in combination a substantially funnel-shaped body constituting a fluid deflector, said body having an open relatively large end and an open relatively small end portion aflording a handle, an open-ended tube disposed axially in said body substantially coextensive therewith and in spaced rela tion from the body whereby to provide an annular outer fluid passage between the body and the tube and facilitate discharge of fluid through the open small end of the body while the wrench is being applied to or removed from a nozzle, means rigidly mounting said tube in said small end portion of the body, and a nozzle engaging socket provided at the end of said tube in the large end of said body, said socket being hollow and permitting fluid flow through the tube when the socket is applied to a nozzle.

3. The device as defined in calim 2 wherein said tube mounting means comprise circumferentially spaced mounting elements extending radially between and secured to said tube and said body.

4. The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said mounting elements comprise opposing pairs of rods.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 772,781 10/1904 Carlber-g 81125 3,014,389 12/1961 OHara 8190 3,301,282 1/1967 Fresolone 141-98 MILTON S. MEHR, Primary Examiner. 

